Antiprestidigitation

/ˌæntɪˌprɛstɪdɪdʒɪˈteɪʃən/ noun

Definition

Deception or trickery that is obvious or clumsy, the opposite of skillful sleight of hand.

Etymology

From 'anti-' (opposite) + 'prestidigitation' (skillful hand tricks), a playful combination contrasting smooth magic with bungled attempts at deception.

Kelly Says

Calling something 'antiprestidigitation' is a witty way to say someone's trying to trick you but doing it so badly that everyone can see what's happening—like watching someone try to hide a surprise when they're terrible at keeping secrets.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.